Dahlia plant named ‘G13525’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘G13525’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; black-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and semi-double type inflorescences with greyed red-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Dahlia variabilis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘G13525’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘G13525’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bellefonte, Pa. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Dahlia plants that have dark-colored leaves, large attractive inflorescences and reduced sensitivity to Powdery Mildew.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in Bellefonte, Pa. in October, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number 3180-5M-6, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unidentified proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. in July, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. since August, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘G13525’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘G13525’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Black-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Semi-double type inflorescences with greyed red-colored ray         florets.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia have darker-colored leaves than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia have larger inflorescences than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia have semi-double type inflorescences         whereas plants of the female parent selection have single type         inflorescences.     -   4. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent         selection have red-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia ‘Mystic Wonder’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,397. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new Dahlia differed primarily from plants of ‘Mystic Wonder’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia were more compact than plants of         ‘Mystic Wonder’.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Mystic Wonder’.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia had semi-double type inflorescences         whereas plants of ‘Mystic Wonder’ had single type         inflorescences.     -   4. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘Mystic Wonder’ differed in ray         floret color as plants of ‘Mystic Wonder’ had rich red-colored         ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia ‘HS Romeo’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,961. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new Dahlia differed primarily from plants of ‘HS Romeo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia were more freely branching than         plants of ‘HS Romeo’.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia had semi-double type inflorescences         whereas plants of ‘HS Romeo’ had single type inflorescences.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘HS Romeo’ differed in ray         floret color as plants of ‘HS Romeo’ had dark red purple-colored         ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘G13525’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘G13525’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 10-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial potted Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 27° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 7,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and were seven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘G13525’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             variabilis identified as code number 3180-5M-6, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection             of Dahlia variabilis, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 7 to 10 days at             ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 14 days at             ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three to four             weeks at ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy and fibrous;             close to white to creamy white in color, actual color of the             roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots; tuber             development has not been observed on plants of the new             Dahlia.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and upright plant form;             inverted triangle; freely branching habit with about three             to four lateral branches developing per plant, each lateral             with potentially two secondary laterals developing per node;             pinching enhances lateral branch development; inflorescences             held above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 21 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 19.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:             Erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Matte. Color:             Close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 7 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Deeply three to five-lobed with parallel to divergent             sinuses.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 197B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 203A; venation,             close to 203A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to N200B; venation, close to 200A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Glossy. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 200A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Semi-double inflorescence form             with ray florets forming acropetally on a receptacle;             inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane on strong             peduncles; inflorescences face mostly upright to outwardly;             freely flowering habit with about ten inflorescence buds and             open inflorescences at one time.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; slightly sour.         -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, plants begin             flowering about five weeks after planting; plants flower             continuously from late spring through the autumn in Southern             California.         -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about five days on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About             1.4 cm. Shape: Ovoid to spherical. Color: Close to 179C to             179D.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.7 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.3 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.7 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3.8 cm.             Shape: Shallow bowl-shape. Color: Close to 202A and 183A to             183B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 26 arranged             in three whorls. Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm.             Shape: Obovate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Aspect: Initially upright to roughly perpendicular             to the peduncle; somewhat concave. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Longitudinally ridged, glabrous. Luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Matte, velvety. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 180C. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 179D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 179A to 179B;             color becoming closer to 171A to 171B with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 179B to 179C; color             becoming closer to 171C to 171D with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 54. Length:             About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Tubular,             elongated; apices acute. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster:             Satiny. Color, when opening: Apex: Close to 187A.             Mid-section: Close to 183B. Base: Close to 145B. Color,             fully opened: Apex: Close to 187A. Mid-section: Close to             185A. Base: Close to 147D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 40 arranged in             about four to five whorls. Inner whorls: Length: About             1.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; membranous, thin. Luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Glossy. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146D; translucent. Outer whorl: Quantity:             About 5-10. Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape:             Elliptical. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Glossy. Color, upper             surface: Close to 187A to 187B. Color, lower surface: Close             to 183A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 5.7 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Aspect: Mostly erect. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Matte. Color:             Close to 202A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Present on disc florets only; ray             florets without visible reproductive organs. Androecium:             Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About 7 mm.             Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther shape: Lanceolate.             Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 22A.             Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 22A.             Gynoecium: Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About             1.9 cm. Style length: About 9 mm. Style color: Close to 1A.             Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 15A. Ovary             color: Close to 146D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Dahlia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘G13525’ as illustrated and described. 